Partner A
Easier: Do you have a dream job? Why or why not?
What did you want to be when you were ten?
More challenging: How do childhood dream jobs usually compare to the reality of working in those fields?
Jamesleads the live roundsSimmonds · live on simmonds.onlineA25 min · English
Dream jobs in English: vocabulary, dialogue and conversation questions
Editorially responsible: James Simmondspublished 28 Oct 2026AI-generated text (learn more – how we use AI on these pages)
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Question of the day
Why would Anna hate to be a window cleaner?
Show the answer – Open the answer to the question of the day
Correct answer: She is afraid of heights.
You can find the answer in the English introduction.
Listen to the introduction
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Transcript
Anna works in a busy office in London. She likes her job, but it is not her dream job – Jump to the vocabulary entry for dream job. When she was young, she wanted to be a famous actor – Jump to the vocabulary entry for famous actor. She loved the theatre. Now, she is happy to work as an accountant – Jump to the vocabulary entry for work as an accountant. The work is interesting and the pay is good – Jump to the vocabulary entry for the pay is good, but she sits at a desk all day. However, Anna knows what she would never do. She would hate to be a window cleaner – Jump to the vocabulary entry for window cleaner. She is afraid of heights – Jump to the vocabulary entry for afraid of heights and hates cold weather. For now, she is happy with her safe office job.
Vocabulary
- dream job/ˌdriːm ˈdʒɒb/
- Meaning: The perfect job that you really want.
- Example: Is being a pilot your dream job?
- famous actor/ˌfeɪ.məs ˈæk.tə/
- Meaning: Someone well known who performs in films or plays.
- Example: My brother wants to be a famous actor.
- work as an accountant/ˌwɜːk əz ən əˈkaʊn.tənt/
- Meaning: To have a job keeping or checking records of money.
- Example: I want to work as an accountant in a small company.
- the pay is good/ðə ˌpeɪ ɪz ˈɡʊd/
- Meaning: Used to say that a job gives you a good amount of money.
- Example: The hours at the hotel are long, but the pay is good.
- window cleaner/ˈwɪn.dəʊ ˌkliː.nə/
- Meaning: A person whose job is to clean windows.
- Example: The window cleaner comes to our office every Tuesday.
- afraid of heights/əˌfreɪd əv ˈhaɪts/
- Meaning: Scared of being in high places.
- Example: I cannot work on the roof because I am afraid of heights.
Dialogue
- TomDo you like your job, Sarah?
- SarahI do, but it is not my dream job.
- TomWhat did you want to do?
- SarahI wanted to be a famous actor.
- TomThat sounds fun! Why did you change your mind?
- SarahI needed a regular income, so I chose to work as an accountant. The pay is much better.
- TomI understand. I wanted to be a window cleaner, but I am afraid of heights.
- SarahThat is a terrible combination!
Questions for your conversation
Partner B
Easier: Do you like working indoors? Why or why not?
What is a job you would never do?
More challenging: What makes a job completely unacceptable for you, even if the pay is very high?
Partner A
Easier: Is good pay important to you? Why or why not?
What is more important: good pay or interesting work?
More challenging: Would you choose an interesting job with lower pay? Why or why not?
Useful phrases
- What did you want to be when you were young?
- It is not my dream job.
- I would hate to do that.
- The pay is quite good.
- I am happy with my current job.
- I sit at a desk all day.
Topic quiz
Five quick questions check vocabulary and listening comprehension.
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